When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen Him, they did not believe it. Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating, He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. Matthew 16:9-20 NIV (continue reading through the end of the chapter)
Did You Know....
- You have the potential to influence the world!
- Living in the Kingdom, always starts with us!
- There is "stuff" in you that if not "fixed" will stop or limit the plan of God in your life.
- It is important to open our minds to the concepts of God's Word.
- Your past does not disqualify you from being used by God.
- When we come to the end of ourselves. He is there!
- We are not really living in the Kingdom like God wants us to.
What keeps us from living in the kingdom.....
Carnal Thinking! We allow our emotions/flesh to get in the way of what God desires in our lives. We, many times, are like the disciples. We feel:
BETRAYED......by others and sometimes even by God. Maybe you even feel as if He has left you. The important thing to remember is not to allow your feelings to begin controlling your life. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us to: BELIEVE THAT HE IS PRESENT and to BELIEVE THAT HE IS GOD! He is big enough to heal you and big enough to lead you through!
INJUSTICE......we often ask, "Why is this happening to me?" Sure bad things happen. Jesus said "if they hated Me, they will hate you." In reality things are difficult and they may not be fair, but......in the Kingdom, it's not final! Look at the bigger picture. You may have to go through some difficult situations, but God will bring you out on the other side! We must learn to deal with the emotions that are in the problems. God wants to heal EVERY area of our lives so that we can reach the world around us!
UNFULFILLED PROMISES...... If God has spoken something to you, then stick with it until you see it come to pass. The problem is not God's faithfulness, because the Word tells us HE IS FAITHFUL! The problem lies with our faithfulness to Him. If the enemy can get you to doubt God's promises, then he has you. Sometimes there is a span of time before we may see a promise fulfilled in our lives. We want to just quit and give up. Have you felt that way before? Living in the kingdom means that you are steadfast, immovable on the Word of God. If God spoke it then stick with it! We are not the ones who have to fulfill the promises. God fulfills His promises!
Are you living in the Kingdom of God?
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